title: Impact of nutrition on serum levels of docosahexaenoic acid among Omani children with autism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder of early childhood. Dietary supplementation of the ω-3 fatty acid (docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) during prenatal and postnatal life is considered a protective dietary intervention strategy to minimize the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To our knowledge, no relevant studies have been conducted in the Middle East investigating the status of DHA among children with autism during early childhood. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels and dietary intake status of DHA among Omani children recently diagnosed with ASD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present case-control study involved 80 Omani children (<5 y), 40 cases and 40 controls matched for age and sex. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake of all the participants, while serum levels of DHA were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that children with ASD had lower dietary consumption of foodstuff containing DHA, as well as lower serum levels of DHA than controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present finding from Oman supports the view of other studies that there are low serum levels of DHA among children with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoud, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Yahya M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Al-Farsi
authors.forename: Mostafa I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Waly
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Deth
authors.forename: Marwan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Sharbati
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Shafaee
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Al-Farsi
authors.forename: Maha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Khaduri
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Adawi
authors.forename: Nathaniel W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Ishita
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Allal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ouhtit
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009850:Oman
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids
keywords: Autism; Diet; Docosahexaenoic acid; Omani children